I didn’t maximize the number of days before my passport expired for each country as this month was more of a vacation than anything else. Despite the sudden change of locations, I came across a few realizations and learned some lessons along the way.

1. Stay healthy!

I overdosed on spicy food in Thailand but I still kept eating them. I also didn’t watch what I ate that I ended up having diarrhea for a couple of days.

I can’t afford to get sick. Aside from the cost of medicines, I also wasted time trying to recover my health. I could’ve used the opportunity to work on other jobs that would allow me to generate more income. Or I could’ve used the time to explore other areas in Bangkok.

Thai Food – spicy!

Thinking that I’m invincible all the time is foolish so I need to be extra cautious especially when I’m on the road and I have fewer people to rely on for help.

2. Ask and you shall receive; haggle.

We found a guesthouse in Siem Reap and the initial price for a fan room with two beds and WiFi was 180 USD. Because of my friend’s haggling skills, we were able to bring it down to 120 USD.

On top of the discount, we wondered if they had bikes available, they gave us two. We asked if we could use their kitchen, they said yes. We requested for hangers to dry our clothes, they gave us a lot. We asked for a table inside the room, they brought one. We also inquired if we could borrow their pail and store food in their fridge, they willingly agreed.

our room for one month in Siem Reap, Cambodia

What was a basic room for a month turned out to be something more. We didn’t have to spend on other costs (hangers, buying a pail, plates for food, etc.) because we ASKED.

3. Long-term backpacking is NOT for everyone.

I realized that this whole long-term backpacking gig is not for everyone. Anybody who likes to try this out needs to consider a lot of things first. How much comfort are you willing to let go in order to be on the road? Preparation is the key but don’t miss out on looking at other areas. Are you emotionally up for the challenge? Can you handle the stress?

Poipet border in Cambodia
photo by Doi

But despite so many questions to consider, how badly you want it and how much you’re willing to sacrifice to continue doing what you want to do is what matters in the end. Still, if backpacking is not for you, you can still travel the way you want to.

4. Don’t expect too much.

Expecting that everyday will be a great adventure is good. But when you already have a vision of what you’re going to experience, you might get upset when things don’t go according to plan.

trapped in the sand
Mui Ne, Vietnam

When you expect too much, you close your mind to possibilities that might happen. Travelling is a different experience every time. Open your mind and just accept whatever comes your way. Otherwise, you’ll be disappointed.

Travelling can sometimes get boring; most especially when you don’t have a lot of money to burn and you just stay in your hostel to work. But it is a must that you interact with people who don’t suck the happiness out of you.

6. Life is what you make it.

Cliché as it might seem, life is truly what you make it. Whether you have all the money in the world or you’re still making ends meet, it’s all about perspective.

Japanese street performer
Chatuchak Market, Bangkok

Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Which one do you wish to focus on? What do you do to fill the other half and make it whole again?

7. Love motivates you.

So many things happened during the month, falling in love was one of them. I didn’t realize how my world turned around because of being struck by cupid. It’s such a beautiful thing to happen to anyone.

in Angkor Wat Complex

I suddenly have a new aspect in my life that’s opened up and and this gives me all the more reason to work harder than ever. I’m more motivated now because I can see a direction on where I want to head in the future.

———————————-

I’m currently settling in Cambodia for the second month to have more work done. That leaves the idea of getting flights to thailand scrapped for now. I hope to accomplish more productivity within the next few weeks so I can save more funds and travel to other parts of Southeast Asia.

soloflightEd.com is a travel blog by Edcel Suyo. He enjoys performing headstands and crazy stunts during his trips in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Now based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and working to earn a living, he takes time to enjoy the city and travel during weekends.
For updates, Like his page on Facebook or Follow him on Twitter.
For questions, advertising, and other concerns, shoot an email to ed@soloflighted.com.

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WAAAAHHH! Kinilig ako sa lesson number 7!!! Hahahaha. Anyway, thanks for this field report. As always, many people who would like to try and take the same path some day would find this really valuable. Sana you won't get tired of sharing your stories with us.

the most important lesson is number 7 since after all, when one is in love, all the rest can follow. I am happy you are well bai and that your trip now just makes your experiences more worthy to write on.
Keep on sharing us your thoughts on the road.
God bless always

happy for you and what you're doing Edcel! i don't think i'm cut out for a long haul backpacking trip. feeling ko, hanggang one month lang ako. i'm not really sure coz i'm yet to do what you're doing. i'll try it for at least a month here in Europe! 😀

<3 <3 <3 kinikilig ako! 😀 it's been awhile since i've been here and i realized, i missed reading your posts 🙂
grabe, bilib ako sa iyo. you're right, long term backpacking is not for everyone. But I'm excited to read more about your adventures

Paddocks Jeans "Life is What you make It" like a cliche ad slogan but speaks true for everyone hehe. I agree that long-term backpacking is not for everyone. Homesickness will bite you, but like you said if one wants it nothing can stop you from doing it….yes on the number 7. – People will have all sorts of reasons why they travel, from this and that, the list goes on – but the underlying main reason for that is love…coz its the driving force in everything we do. Yeah!!!!

@Estan: yeah, most likely. i just grabbed whatever was on the food counter so that must've been it. also, even if I had a hard time in the bathroom in the morning, I still continued eating spicy foods. padayun gyapon habhab ug halang. hehe. adto na unya Thailand!

@Marky: naks, great words Marky! Too bad I wasn't able to join you guys during your trip to Cebu. But I'm looking forward to your blog posts soon. Thanks!

I hear you Ed. Long term backpacking ain't for everyone. I never really thought I'd be able to do it, but having my family in tow makes it easier… Well not so easy with the baby, but yah know what I mean 🙂

Congrats on your 1st month Ed! 🙂 I agree with number 3.. And when it comes to life changing decisions like long-term backpacking, it is best to know that this is what we really want to do… Hope to see you and Doi again. :)Cheers!

Congratulations on your 1st month! I'm glad to witness some parts of it haha and I agree with everything you mentioned here. Nakaka-miss ang Siem Reap! Ako feeling ko the one that truly works for me is one or two months sa road then uwi muna pero i'd rather stay 1 week or two in a place muna bago mag-move. Super agree ako sa #5 kasi naka-link ako LOL joke pero yep, mas ok to surround yourself with positive people or at least talk to people na mag-motivate sayo to do better. Ang saya kaya magtulungan na umani ng maraming money 😀

Congratulations Ed! Seems like only yesterday when you were planning this great adventure. 3 and 4 are great tips! I'm glad you to chose to include them on your list hehe! Those are perhaps my first 2 tips if I was going to give any (but obviously I'm no authority hehe!). I wish you both never ending luck 😀

Lesson # 1 So True, a lot of time are put to waste when you get sick. Just a slight change of plan can ruin everything. So Right thumb rule especially in SEA, Ask if it is Spicy, pertaining to tongue's out hand wave gesture.
and of course Lesson # 7. It is very comfortable and reassuring if you travel with someone who shares the burden, stress, expenses and love of course. It will not only motivate you but it will put an infinite smile on your face that you can't fake it. 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your SEA trip!

@Joey: thanks for the added tip on choosing spicy foods or not, Joey! Hope to meet you two ne of these days!

@Lagalag: Boredom is one of the ways that you need to fight off when backpacking. But yes, you need to learn how to keep yourself busy and how to recover from it; on top of the basic things you need to do when backpacking. Thanks for dropping by!

I just about melted at #7 and the accompanying photo. <3 I'm sure that last photo broke the hearts of lots of girls…and quite a few guys, haha! Very romantic na sana ang post if not for diarrhea as the opening salvo. 😀
Agree with #3. That's why I'm still a tourist. I can't be on the road for a long time. I'm a deeply rooted person, which is ironic for a travel blogger! Usually, after a week or so of traveling, I wanna go home na.
#5 goes without saying. I have a sunny disposition most of the time, so I really hate it when someone rains on my parade. I don't complain too much and I'm majorly zapped of energy when someone I'm with does…all the time.
As for the climax, #7, amen as well. My buko pie (buko pie talaga!) loves to go on road trips so I'm lucky we share that interest. Too bad lang di sha mahilig sa trips abroad. My dream is makasama sha abroad too. So you're a lucky lover. Karay-karay mo ang love of your life…si Doi. Ay mali! 😀

hello, I was searching for internet connection details for Siem Reap and came across your site. Fabulous!
We also work location independently and will be heading to Siem Reap in two weeks time… so, what is the internet connection like? And, the place you are staying at, how much is it for AC?
Feel free to either reply on here or via my emai 🙂
Thanks, Tanyahttp://magictravelblog.com

@Tanya: Ey Tanya, internet connection is guesthouses are not as fast as in Bangkok. They run about 1mbps or so. But for the price, it's kinda ok. Depending on the guesthouse, air conditioned rooms are probably about 12 to 15 USD good for two persons per night. You can get ask for a discount if you stay longer. the website is http://villatany.com. PMed you too!